Letters to the Editor

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Today I rode my bike on the Shelby Forest Greenline. It is refreshing to see Memphis create such a wonderful recreational area in the heart of the city. It demonstrates a commitment to greener living and hopefully will evolve into bike lanes and trails throughout the city.

One thing about the trip I found disturbing is this: For all the talk of "green"
associated with the bike and walking trail, why hasn't Shelby Farms started offering recycling bins around the park? Think of all the plastic, glass, paper, and aluminum that could be collected from the ball fields, running tracks, dog park, horse stables, and lakes? If any place in the city should understand the importance of conservation and sustainable living in the 21st century, it should be the people managing Shelby Farms.

I want to see my city committed to better quality and more sustainable lifestyles for everyone. We are very fortunate to have one of the largest urban parks in the United States. Not only is recycling responsible behavior for our children's sake, it is now economically feasible.

Many of the restaurants that have teamed up with Project Green Fork would probably be opposed to ending industrial farming. Unfortunately, industrial farming also takes a heavy environmental toll. Restaurants have jumped on the recycling bandwagon because it makes sense economically, they better their image in the eyes of the community, and we take an important step as a city to more sustainable living.

It pains me that the park management at Shelby Farms fails to see the value in such a simple but effective step.
Nelson Moore

Memphis

Raleigh Cemetery

Regarding the cover story "Can Raleigh Spring Back?" (November 11th issue): In the concluding paragraph, writer Lindsay Jones quoted the epigraph of a young James Harris, who died in 1926.

James Harris was my great-great uncle, whose death at age 13 was the result of a school wagon accident: He was crushed underneath its wheels. Though saddened by the circumstances of James' premature passing, I was elated to learn of citizens concerned about the status of the historic Raleigh Cemetery.

From the research I conducted, I discovered that much of the information regarding older plots at the cemetery was lost long ago. Without the diligent support of local residents and community leaders, we as Memphians will lose even further access to our city's history as time marches across the markers encased by the rickety fences and debris at the cemetery.

Thank you for your insightful article regarding the Raleigh/Frayser communities, specifically the current condition of the Raleigh Cemetery and efforts to reclaim it.

Meredith Heath

Memphis

Health-care Debate

The health-care debate rages on, and Americans are getting sick all across the United States. The American public is sick of the inability of our elected representatives to reform health care. They are also sick because in these hard economic times, health-care bills hit all too close to home. This raises an interesting question: Can we afford to get sick in America?

Politicians debate aggressively over the benefits and dangers of a government public option. However, I do not hear many debates over how to lower private health-care costs. Instead of handing health care over to our government, why don't we fix the system we currently have?

Not only are financially struggling families expected to pay high monthly health insurance premiums, but if they get sick, they have to pay those medical bills as well. In an economy where many families are just making ends meet, forcing everyone to have health care was not the solution.

Nevertheless, there is a reason that we may never see health-care reform in America. The reason is that health insurance companies make too much money at the expense of the public. When a politician gets in the way, there is a simple solution at the ready: Pay them off.

Perry Luft

Memphis

Impressed With Memphis

As an Englishman visiting Memphis, I was so impressed by the hospitality of the local people. The history I saw was amazing: Sun Records, the museums, and the topping on the cake — Graceland. It was as if Elvis were still there. The house has so much to see, and the best part, for me, was the tranquility of the gardens, where Elvis and his family were laid to rest.

I will never forget Beale Street and Elvis' statue and those wonderful shops. As an artist, I also appreciated the fine architecture of the city's buildings. Thanks.

Stephen Sutton

Lichfield Staffs, England

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